A method comprises displaying a map including a plurality of streets and displaying street names for a first subset of the plurality of streets shown on the map, the street signs displayed only for the first subset of streets that are directly accessible from the user's current location and are along the user's path, wherein a second subset of streets that are not directly accessible from the user's current location, including streets behind the user's current location, do not have the street signs.
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1. A method comprising: displaying a route-up map including a plurality of streets for guiding a user to a location; calculating a user's current location and based on the user's current location, determining a first subset of the plurality of streets that are directly accessible and turnable from the user's current location; displaying street names for the first subset of the plurality of streets shown on the map, that are directly accessible and turnable from the user's current location along the user's path, not displaying the street names for a second subset of streets that are not directly accessible from the user's current location, the second subset of streets including streets ahead of the user that are not accessible from the user's current location and streets behind the user's current location.
Navigation and mapping systems. This invention addresses the problem of providing clear and relevant street name information to a user navigating a map, particularly when the user is at an intersection or a point where multiple streets are accessible. The method involves displaying a map showing a route for guiding a user to a destination. The system determines the user's current location. Based on this location, it identifies a first group of streets that are directly reachable and from which the user can make a turn. The system then displays the names of these directly accessible and turnable streets on the map, specifically those that are along the user's intended path. Street names for a second group of streets are not displayed. This second group includes streets that are not directly accessible from the user's current location, such as streets ahead of the user that cannot be immediately entered, and streets located behind the user's current position. This selective display aims to reduce clutter and highlight the most relevant street information for immediate navigation decisions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the map includes an indication of the user's current location, and the user's current location is defined by one or more of: a global positioning system, a network location system, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a pressure sensor.
This invention relates to location-based mapping systems that provide users with real-time positioning data. The technology addresses the need for accurate and reliable user location tracking in navigation applications, particularly in environments where traditional GPS signals may be weak or unavailable. The system determines a user's current location using a combination of sensors, including global positioning systems (GPS), network location systems, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and pressure sensors. By integrating multiple sensor inputs, the system enhances location accuracy and reliability, even in challenging conditions such as indoor spaces or urban canyons. The map displayed to the user includes a visual indication of their current position, updated dynamically as they move. This approach improves navigation assistance by providing precise location data, reducing reliance on a single sensor type, and ensuring continuous tracking in diverse environments. The system is particularly useful for applications requiring high-precision positioning, such as indoor navigation, augmented reality, and emergency response systems.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: displaying a flat map including street names for the first plurality of streets and the second plurality of streets.
This invention relates to mapping and navigation systems, specifically improving the display of street information for users. The problem addressed is the difficulty in identifying streets on maps, particularly in densely populated or complex urban areas where street names may be obscured or hard to read. The solution involves a method for displaying a flat map that includes street names for multiple sets of streets, enhancing clarity and usability for navigation. The method involves generating a map that includes a first set of streets and a second set of streets, where the second set is distinct from the first. The map is displayed in a flat, two-dimensional format, ensuring that street names for both sets are clearly visible. This approach helps users quickly identify and differentiate between streets, improving navigation accuracy and user experience. The flat map display ensures that street names are not distorted or obscured, which is particularly useful in areas with overlapping or intersecting streets. The method may also include additional features such as highlighting specific streets or providing additional contextual information to further assist users in navigation.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's path is defined by a direction in which the user is facing, wherein the direction in which the user is facing is determined based on one or more of: a global positioning system, a map orientation, a network location system, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a pressure sensor.
This invention relates to tracking a user's path based on their facing direction, addressing the challenge of accurately determining movement direction in navigation systems. The method involves defining the user's path by analyzing the direction in which they are facing, which is determined using one or more sensors or systems. These include global positioning systems (GPS), map orientation data, network location systems, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and pressure sensors. By integrating these inputs, the system can precisely calculate the user's facing direction, enabling more accurate path tracking and navigation. This approach improves upon traditional methods that rely solely on GPS or inertial sensors, which may suffer from drift or inaccuracies. The invention enhances navigation applications by providing a more reliable and context-aware path definition, particularly useful in scenarios where precise directional data is critical, such as outdoor exploration, autonomous vehicle navigation, or augmented reality applications. The use of multiple sensor inputs ensures robustness, compensating for potential limitations of individual sensors. This method is particularly valuable in dynamic environments where environmental factors or user movement patterns may affect directional accuracy.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the map further comprises: obtaining map tiles, a combination of the map tiles forming a two-dimensional flat map image; displaying a map image of a perspective skewed map, the perspective skewed map image generated from the two-dimensional flat map image, the perspective skewed map including a plurality of streets.
This invention relates to digital mapping systems, specifically methods for displaying perspective-skewed map images derived from standard two-dimensional flat map data. The problem addressed is the need for more visually intuitive and user-friendly map displays that present geographic information in a perspective view while maintaining the accuracy of traditional flat maps. The method involves obtaining map tiles, which are individual segments of a larger two-dimensional flat map image. These tiles are combined to form a complete flat map representation. The system then generates a perspective-skewed map image from this flat map, creating a three-dimensional-like visual effect. This skewed perspective map includes a plurality of streets, allowing users to view the map in a more natural, angled orientation that may improve spatial understanding and navigation. The perspective-skewed map is dynamically generated from the flat map data, ensuring that the underlying geographic accuracy remains intact while providing a more engaging visual experience. This approach leverages existing flat map data to create an enhanced display without requiring separate three-dimensional map datasets. The method is particularly useful for applications where users benefit from a more intuitive spatial representation, such as navigation systems, urban planning tools, or interactive mapping interfaces.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: obtaining the map tiles and vector data for an area associated with the map tiles; and reconciling the map tiles and the vector data to ensure that the information represented by the map image and the vector data matches.
This invention relates to digital mapping systems, specifically methods for ensuring consistency between map tiles and vector data. The problem addressed is the potential mismatch between raster-based map tiles and corresponding vector data, which can lead to inaccuracies in navigation, location-based services, and other applications relying on geographic information. The method involves obtaining map tiles, which are pre-rendered images of geographic areas, and corresponding vector data, which represents geographic features as geometric shapes with attributes. The system then reconciles these two data types to ensure that the information depicted in the map tiles matches the vector data. This reconciliation process may involve comparing visual features in the map tiles with the geometric and attribute data in the vector data, identifying discrepancies, and correcting them. For example, if a road depicted in a map tile does not align with the vector data for that road, the system would adjust either the map tile or the vector data to resolve the inconsistency. The reconciliation process may also include updating the map tiles or vector data based on changes detected in one or the other. This ensures that both representations of the geographic area remain synchronized, improving the reliability of mapping applications. The method is particularly useful in dynamic environments where geographic data is frequently updated, such as in real-time navigation systems or location-based services.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the map comprises a plurality of map tiles, and the plurality of map tiles are sourced from at least two sources of flat map tiles.
This invention relates to digital mapping systems, specifically methods for generating and displaying maps using multiple sources of flat map tiles. The problem addressed is the need for improved map rendering by combining data from different tile sources to enhance accuracy, coverage, or performance. The method involves generating a map composed of multiple map tiles, where each tile represents a portion of the map. These tiles are sourced from at least two distinct providers of flat map tiles, which are pre-rendered, static image-based map segments. By integrating tiles from different sources, the system can leverage the strengths of each provider, such as higher resolution, updated data, or specialized content (e.g., satellite imagery, terrain details, or traffic overlays). The method ensures seamless integration of these tiles, maintaining consistency in scale, projection, and alignment to produce a cohesive map display. This approach allows for dynamic selection of the best available tile source for different regions or layers of the map, improving overall map quality and reliability. The system may prioritize certain sources based on factors like data freshness, user preferences, or network conditions. The invention is particularly useful in applications requiring high-quality, customizable maps, such as navigation systems, geographic information systems (GIS), or location-based services.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a source for a map tile is selected from among a plurality of providers based on one or more of: a resolution, a size, a cost, and a date of last update.
A method for selecting a map tile source from multiple providers involves evaluating and choosing the optimal provider based on specific criteria. The selection process considers factors such as the resolution of the map tile, its size, the associated cost, and the date of the last update. This approach ensures that the chosen map tile meets the required quality and freshness while optimizing for cost and efficiency. The method is part of a broader system for dynamically retrieving and displaying map tiles from different providers, where the selection is made in real-time to enhance performance and user experience. By analyzing these criteria, the system can dynamically switch between providers to deliver the best available map tile for a given request, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness. This method is particularly useful in applications where map data must be up-to-date, high-resolution, and efficiently delivered to users.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: normalizing the plurality of map tiles.
A method for processing map data involves normalizing a plurality of map tiles to ensure consistency in their representation. The map tiles are initially obtained from a map data source, where each tile may have varying formats, resolutions, or coordinate systems. The normalization process standardizes these tiles by converting them to a uniform format, resolution, and coordinate system, making them compatible for seamless integration and analysis. This step is particularly useful in applications requiring high-precision geospatial data, such as navigation systems, autonomous vehicle routing, or geographic information system (GIS) applications. By normalizing the map tiles, the method ensures that the data can be accurately overlaid, compared, or processed without discrepancies caused by differing tile properties. The normalization may include resampling, coordinate transformation, or format conversion to achieve uniformity across the dataset. This method enhances the reliability and usability of map data in various technical and commercial applications.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: calculating a route between a first position and a second position; calculating a reverse route; comparing the route and the reverse route, and adjusting the route based on information from the reverse route.
This invention relates to route optimization in navigation systems, addressing the challenge of inefficient or unsafe routes by leveraging reverse route analysis. The method involves calculating a primary route between a starting position and a destination, followed by computing a reverse route from the destination back to the starting position. The primary and reverse routes are then compared to identify discrepancies, such as one-way streets, traffic patterns, or other navigational constraints that may affect travel efficiency or safety. Based on this comparison, the primary route is adjusted to incorporate insights from the reverse route, ensuring a more optimized and reliable path. This approach helps avoid potential issues like dead-ends, restricted access, or suboptimal detours, improving overall navigation accuracy and user experience. The method may also integrate real-time data, such as traffic conditions or road closures, to further refine the adjusted route. By dynamically analyzing bidirectional travel paths, the system enhances route planning for vehicles, pedestrians, or other navigation applications.
11. A mapping application comprising, on a display screen displaying data generated by a processor, the generated data comprising: a map image generated by the processor, the map image showing a plurality of streets; street signs with street names displayed only for a first subset of the plurality of streets shown on the map image, directly accessible from the user's current location and along the user's path, and no street signs displayed for a second subset of the plurality of streets that are not directly accessible from the user's current location, the second subset of streets including streets ahead of the user that are not accessible to the user from the user's current location and streets behind the user.
A mapping application displays a map image on a screen, showing multiple streets. The application selectively displays street signs with street names for a first subset of streets that are directly accessible from the user's current location and along their path. These signs help users navigate by highlighting relevant streets. For a second subset of streets that are not directly accessible—including streets ahead that cannot be reached from the current location and streets behind the user—the application does not display any street signs. This selective display reduces visual clutter by omitting irrelevant street names, improving usability and focus on navigable routes. The application dynamically adjusts the display based on the user's location and path, ensuring only pertinent information is shown. The system processes location data to determine accessibility and path relevance, then generates the map image with the appropriate street sign visibility. This approach enhances navigation efficiency by prioritizing actionable information while minimizing distractions from non-navigable streets.
12. The mapping application of claim 11 , wherein the map includes an indication of the user's current location, and the user's current location is defined by one or more of: a global positioning system, a network location system, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a pressure sensor.
This invention relates to mapping applications that provide location-based services. The problem addressed is the need for accurate and reliable user location tracking within mapping applications to enhance navigation, location-based services, and user experience. The mapping application displays a map with an indication of the user's current location. The user's location is determined using one or more sensors or systems, including a global positioning system (GPS), a network location system (e.g., Wi-Fi or cellular triangulation), an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a pressure sensor. These sensors and systems work individually or in combination to improve location accuracy, especially in environments where GPS signals may be weak or unavailable, such as indoors or in urban canyons. The accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer help track movement and orientation, while the pressure sensor may assist in determining altitude or floor level in multi-story buildings. The network location system provides additional positioning data when GPS is unreliable. By integrating multiple location sources, the application ensures robust and precise location tracking for navigation, search, and other location-aware features.
13. The mapping application of claim 11 , further comprising: a path from a first location to a second location for the user, wherein the user's path is defined by a route selected by the user, and a direction in which the user is facing, determined based on one or more of: a global positioning system, a map orientation, a network location system, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a pressure sensor.
A mapping application provides navigation assistance by determining a user's path from a first location to a second location, where the path is defined by a route selected by the user. The application also tracks the direction in which the user is facing, using one or more sensors or systems such as a global positioning system (GPS), map orientation, network location system, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, or pressure sensor. This allows the application to provide accurate navigation guidance by correlating the user's movement and orientation with the selected route. The system enhances navigation accuracy by dynamically adjusting to the user's real-time position and direction, ensuring that the displayed path remains aligned with the user's actual movement. The application may also integrate additional sensors to refine direction tracking, such as gyroscopes for detecting rotational movement or magnetometers for compass-based orientation. The combination of user-selected routes and sensor-based direction tracking improves navigation reliability in various environments, including urban and outdoor settings. The application may further optimize path guidance by adjusting visual or auditory cues based on the user's facing direction, ensuring intuitive and context-aware navigation assistance.
14. A mapping system comprising: a map data acquisition logic to obtain map data, the map data including a map with plurality of streets; a street sign placer to identify a first subset of the plurality of streets based on a current location and route of a user, the identification comprising identifying the subset of streets that are directly accessible from the user's current location and along the user's route, and placing street signs only on the first subset of the plurality of streets, such that a second subset of the plurality of streets that are not directly accessible from the user's current location have no street signs, wherein the second subset of the plurality of streets includes streets ahead of the user that are not accessible to the user from the user's current location and streets behind the user's current location.
The mapping system is designed to improve navigation by dynamically displaying street signs only for relevant streets based on a user's current location and route. The system acquires map data containing a map with multiple streets. A street sign placer identifies a subset of these streets that are directly accessible from the user's current location and along their planned route. Street signs are placed only on this subset, while streets not directly accessible—including those ahead or behind the user—are left without signs. This approach reduces visual clutter by hiding irrelevant streets, making navigation more intuitive and user-friendly. The system ensures that only the most pertinent streets are highlighted, improving clarity and reducing cognitive load for the user. The dynamic placement of street signs adapts in real-time as the user moves, ensuring continuous relevance to their current position and route. This method enhances the efficiency of navigation systems by focusing on actionable information.
15. The mapping system of claim 14 , wherein the map data is made up of a plurality of map tiles, the map tiles sourced from a plurality of sources, such that the map includes map tiles from at least two sources.
A mapping system generates a composite map by combining map tiles from multiple sources. The system integrates map data from at least two distinct sources to create a unified map display. Each source provides a set of map tiles, which are individual segments of the overall map. The system merges these tiles to form a cohesive map, allowing for the inclusion of diverse data such as different geographic regions, layers, or styles from various providers. This approach enables the mapping system to leverage multiple data sources, improving coverage, accuracy, or customization options. The system may also handle inconsistencies or overlaps between tiles from different sources to ensure a seamless user experience. By aggregating map tiles from multiple origins, the system provides a flexible and comprehensive mapping solution that can adapt to different user needs or geographic requirements.
16. The mapping system of claim 15 , wherein the source is selected from among a plurality of providers based on one or more of: a resolution, a size, a cost, and a date of last update.
A mapping system selects a source from multiple providers based on criteria such as resolution, size, cost, and the date of the last update. The system includes a mapping interface that displays a map with selectable regions, each linked to a source of map data. When a user selects a region, the system retrieves map data from the chosen source and displays it on the interface. The selection of the source is automated, considering factors like the resolution of the map data, the size of the data (e.g., file size or coverage area), the cost associated with accessing the data, and how recently the data was updated. The system may also allow users to manually override the automated selection. The mapping interface dynamically updates the displayed map based on the retrieved data, ensuring users receive the most relevant or cost-effective map information. This approach optimizes the balance between data quality, cost, and timeliness for mapping applications.
17. The mapping system of claim 15 , further comprising: a normalizer to normalize the map data to a uniform scale, uniform resolution, and uniform image format.
This invention relates to a mapping system designed to process and standardize map data for improved compatibility and usability. The system addresses the challenge of integrating map data from diverse sources, which often vary in scale, resolution, and image format, making it difficult to combine or analyze them effectively. The system includes a normalizer component that standardizes the map data to a uniform scale, resolution, and image format. This ensures consistency across different datasets, enabling seamless integration and analysis. The normalizer likely processes raw map data, adjusting its scale to a predefined standard, enhancing resolution to a uniform level, and converting the image format to a common type (e.g., converting raster to vector or vice versa). By normalizing the data, the system facilitates better data fusion, visualization, and application in navigation, urban planning, or geographic information systems (GIS). The invention improves interoperability between different mapping sources, reducing errors and enhancing the reliability of map-based applications.
18. The mapping system of claim 14 , further comprising: the map data acquisition logic to obtain vector data associated with the map data; and a mapper to reconcile the map data and the vector data to ensure that the information represented by the map data and the vector data matches.
This invention relates to mapping systems designed to integrate and reconcile different types of map data to ensure consistency and accuracy. The system addresses the challenge of combining traditional map data with vector data, which may originate from different sources or formats, to produce a unified and reliable representation of geographic information. Vector data typically includes geometric representations of map features such as roads, buildings, and landmarks, often stored in a structured format that allows for precise manipulation and analysis. The system includes logic for acquiring map data, which may include raster images, satellite imagery, or other forms of geographic information. Additionally, it obtains vector data associated with the map data, which provides detailed geometric and attribute information about map features. A mapper component then reconciles the map data and vector data to ensure that the information they represent matches. This reconciliation process may involve aligning geometric features, correcting discrepancies, or merging overlapping data to produce a coherent and accurate map representation. The system ensures that the final output is consistent, reducing errors and improving the reliability of the mapping data for applications such as navigation, urban planning, or geographic analysis.
19. The mapping system of claim 14 , further comprising: a router to calculate a route between a first position and a second position and to calculate a reverse route; a reverse route logic to compare the route and the reverse route, and to adjust the route based on information from the reverse route.
A mapping system is designed to improve route calculation by analyzing both forward and reverse routes between two positions. The system includes a router that computes a route from a first position to a second position and a reverse route from the second position back to the first. A reverse route logic component compares the forward and reverse routes, then adjusts the forward route based on discrepancies or additional information derived from the reverse route. This adjustment may optimize the route for factors such as distance, time, or traffic conditions. The system may also incorporate additional features, such as user interface elements for displaying routes, navigation instructions, or real-time traffic data. The reverse route analysis helps identify inefficiencies or alternative paths that may not be apparent when considering only the forward route. This approach enhances route accuracy and reliability, particularly in dynamic environments where conditions may change frequently. The system may be used in navigation applications, logistics planning, or autonomous vehicle guidance.
20. The mapping system of claim 14 , further comprising: the map data acquisition logic to receive an image with mapping data and a scale associated with the image; a flat map processor to generate one or more map tiles based on the image; and the skewer to generate one or more perspective skewed map tiles based on the one or more map tiles.
This invention relates to a mapping system designed to process and display map data in a visually intuitive manner. The system addresses the challenge of presenting flat map data in a way that mimics real-world perspective, enhancing user understanding and navigation. The system includes logic to acquire map data, which may be received as an image with embedded mapping data and a scale. A flat map processor generates map tiles from this image, which are then processed by a skewer component to create perspective-skewed map tiles. These skewed tiles provide a three-dimensional-like view, allowing users to perceive depth and orientation more naturally. The system may also include a map data storage component to store the generated tiles and a map data display component to render the skewed tiles for visualization. The skewer component adjusts the map tiles based on a specified skew angle, ensuring the perspective view aligns with user expectations. This approach improves the usability of digital maps by making them more visually intuitive and easier to interpret.
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November 30, 2015
December 3, 2019
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